Nozzle



Aug. 15, 1967 F. G. wEls 3,335,963

NOZZLE Filed Dec. 3l, 1964 INVENTOR.

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3,335,963 NOZZLE Frank G. Weis, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Union TankCar Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New .Ierse y Filed Dec. 31,1964, Ser. No. 422,737

Claims. (Cl. 239-499) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE THE SPECIFICATION Thisinvention relates in general to a nozzle arrangement for emitting fluid,and to a method for constructing the nozzle arrangement. It deals morespecically with an electrode-nozzle arrangement for use in materialhandling apparatus which uutilizes uid under pressure as a materialejecting agent.

It is presently known to introduce a gas under pressure into a receiverfor accumulating material such as sewage or the like, in order to forcethe material from the receiver. The gas, which is commonly air, ispreferably introduced to the receiver through a nozzle arrangement whichdoubles as an electrode for sensing material level in the receiver. Uponcontact of the electrode-nozzle arrangement by the material as it risesin filling the receiver, a control circuit is closed through thematerial from the electrode to grounded walls of the receiver to effectintroduction of the air and force material therefrom.

Where the material in question is sewage or another semiliquidsubstance, the introduction of pressurized air through a nozzlearrangement raises certain problems. For example, if the air isintroduced in such a manner that an air stream impinges directly on thesewage, the blast of air tends to splash the semiliquid material and,not uncommonly, some of that material is deposited on the insulationsurrounding the electrode-nozzle arrangement. Moisture evaporates fromthe deposited material over a period of time and leaves a slightly dampsolid material completely encompassing the insulation jacket andproviding a conducting layer which might ground the electrode to thereceiver and cause the system to malfunction.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved nozzle arrangement for introducing gas under pressure to amaterial receiver for the purpose of forcing material therefrom. v It isanother object to provide a nozzle arrangement which avoids theimpingement of a steam of gas under pressure directly on liquid orsemiliquid material so as to obviate splashing of the material.

It is still another object to provide a nozzle arrangement which emitsgas under pressure generally radially of the axis of its inflow withvery little, if any loss, in head.

It is a further object to provide a nozzle arrangement of theaforedescribed character which doubles as an electrode for sensingmaterial level in the receiver.

The foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with the presentinvention by providing a nozzle arrangement which diverts the Verticalinflow of gas under pressure horizontally out over the surface ofaccumulated Sewage material or the like. The nozzle arrangement changesthe direction of gas ilow approximately with virtually no head loss inthe nozzle arrangement. The horizontally emitted flow of gas avoidsdirect impingement on the semiliquid sewage material, for example, andprevents the splashing of sewage material up onto the nozzle arrangement(which doubles as an electrode for sensing material level in thereceiver), thus preventing the accumulation of damp solids on theelectrode and avoiding short circuits which might follow.

The electrode-nozzle arrangement is simple and inexpensive inconstruction. It is, in fact, constructed of standard plumbing-components according to a method embodying features of the presentinvention.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of material handlingapparatus incorporating an electrode-nozzle arrangement embodyingfeatures of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partially in section, ofthe electrode-nozzle arrangement seen in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective View of the electrode-nozzlearrangement embodying features of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIG- URE 1, a materialhandling apparatus commonly known as a sewage lift station isillustrated generally at 10. The apparatus 10 includes a sewage receiversection 11, an air reservoir and valve section 12, and a controlmachinery section 13. The various sections 11-13 are preferablyfabricated of sheet steel and are separated by bulk-heads 17 and 18. Adished lower head 19 forms the bottom of the sewage receiver section 11,and an access cover 20 overlies the upper end of the control machinerysection 13.

Liquid and semiliquid sewage enters the receiver chamber 12 defined bythe sewage receiver section 11 by gravity feed from an inlet pipe 25through an inlet gate valve 26, an inlet check Valve 27, and a receiveraccess pipe 28. When the level of sewage material in the receiverchamber 21 reaches a height suflicient to encounter the electrode-nozzlearrangement 35 embodying features of the present invention, a circuit iscompleted from the ground 36 through the sewage material and anelectrode air pipe 37 to the control machinery, seen generally at 39, inthe machinery chamber 4l) defined by the control machinery section 13.

When the actuating circuit is completed in this manner, the controlmachinery arrangement 39 is effective to initiate the pumping of airunder pressure into the receiver chamber 21 to force the sewage materialtherefrom. The sewage material departs the receiver chamber 21 throughthe access pipe 28, an outlet check valve 43, an outlet gate valve 44,and the outlet pipe 45. The ejected sewage material is, in this manner,lifted to a predetermined point above the level of its starting pointlfor discharge or other treatment or the like.

The control machinery arrangement 39 forms no specic part of the presentinvention and, accordingly, is not described here in great detail. Froma primarily functional standpoint, however, it includes a switch box 46which is electrically coupled to the electrode air pipe 37 by a conduit47. The switch box 46 is also connected to a source of power (not shown)and to an electrically operated three-way valve 48 by a conduit 49.

The electrically operated three-way valve 48 is connected to a main airline 50 by a pipe 51. The air line taken along line 3 3 50 isoperatively connected with an -air compressor unit V52 at its upper endwhile the lower end 53 extends into an air reservoir chamber 55 definedby the air reservoir and valve section 12. The air compressor unit 52normally keeps-the air reservoir chamber 55 lled with air at apredetermined pressure. At the same time, the threeway valve 48, throughan exhaust pipe 56 t0 the atmosphere, normally places the sewagereceiver chamber 21 in communication with the atmosphere through theelectrode-nozzle arrangement 35, the electrode-air pipe 37, the joint60, the pipe section 61, and the valve 48.

When the sewage material accumulating in the receiver chamber 21contacts the electrode-nozzle arrangement 35 embodying features of thepresent invention in the manner hereinbefore discussed, completion ofthe electrical control circuit results in the operation of switchingcomponents (not shown) in the switch box 46 to effect electricaloperation of the three-way valve 48. The valve 48 is shifted toterminate normal communication of the chamber 21 with the atmosphere andplace the air reservoir chamber 55 in communication with the sewagereceiver chamber 21. Air under pressure flows through the air-`electrode pipe 37 and the electrode-nozzle arrangement 35 into thechamber 21 to forcibly eject material therefrom.

According to the present invention, fluid under pressure introduced tothe sewage receiver chamber 21 through the electrode nozzle arrangement35 is directed horizontally outwardly over the surface of the sewagematerial in the receiver section 11. The surface of the sewage materialis not agitated by a stream of air under pressure and splashing of thesewage material is thus avoided. As a result, sewage material laden withsemisolids does not splash up onto and encrust the electrodenozzlearrangement 35 with the beneficial result of avoiding short circuitsthrough the damp encrusted material and malfunctions of the apparatuswhich follows.

While the stream of air under pressure entering the nozzle arrangement35 is diverted approximately 90 to be emitted substantially horizontallyoutward over the surface yof the sewage material accumulating in thesewage receiver chamber 21virtually no air pressure head loss iseffected by the electrode-nozzle arrangement 35 in so diverting airflow. The electrode-nozzle arrangement 35 achieves this minimal pressuredrop through the unique control of the air flow within the nozzlearrangement in a manner which will hereinafter be discussed in greaterdetail.

The electrode-nozzle arrangement 35 is illustrated in substantial detailin FIGURES 2 4. The electrodenozzle arrangement 35 includes a short twoand one-quarter inch section of standard one and one-half inch steelpipe. The pipe 70 is threaded at its upper end, as at 71, and at itslower end, as at 72. The threaded upper end 71 is turned into theinternally threaded lower end 74 of the electrode air pipe 37, the pipe37 extending through the bulk head 17 into the sewage receiver chamber21 in suitably sealed, air-tight relationship.

Prior to being turned into the threaded lower end 74 of the electrodeair pipe 37, the cylindrical wall 76 delining the pipe section 70 issawed or otherwise cut upwardly through its threaded lower end 72 toform four fingers 77 displaced 90 from each other around thecircumference of the pipe section 70. The fingers 77 are cut so thatthey extend approximately two-thirds of the length of the pipe section7i) upwardly from its lower end 72 and terminate adjacent the base 78 ofthe threads of the threaded upper end 71 thereof.

When the fingers 77 have been cut from the wall 76 of the pipe section70, they are bent inwardly of the wall to terminate at their free ends79 immediately adjacent each other in the manner illustrated in FIGURE4. In this regard, it will be noted that the opposed finger ends 79acome into abutting relationship while the opposed finger ends 79b arespaced by the Width 0f the finger ends 79a.

Once the fingers 77 have been formed in the manner hereinbeforediscussed, a standard pipe cap is threaded onto the remaining lowersegmentally cylindrical wall sections 81 of the pipe section 70. As willbe recognized, the base 86 of the pipe cap 85 forms a closed lower endon the electrode-nozzle arrangement 35. There thus remain four generallyrectangular, circumferentially spaced ports 90 in the electrode-nozzlearrangement 35.

As so constructed, the nozzle-arrangement 35 is finally turned into theinternally threaded lower end 74 of the electrode air pipe 37 extendinginto the sewage receiver chamber 21. At this point a plastic sleeve 93is shrunk onto the lower end 74 of the electrode air pipe 37 and theexposed threaded portion of the upper end 71 of the pipe section 70. Theplastic sleeve 93 acts as an insulator extending down to the upper endsof the lingers 77 so that only the lower two thirds of theelectrode-nozzle arrangement 35 acts as a contact probe for sensing theheight of the sewage material in the chamber 21. In this regard, itshould be recognized that the pipe cap 85 acts as the primary contactsurface.

When air under pressure is directed into the electrodenozzle arrangement35 through the air electrode pipe 37, at the instance of sewage materialcompleting the control circuit by contacting the cap 85 of theelectrode-nozzle arrangement, the specific arrangement of convergingfingers 77 land the bottom 86 of the pipe cap 85 cause the entering airto be directed substantially horizontally out over the surface of thesewage material. This phenomena of horizontal or substantiallyhorizontal air flow out of the electrode-nozzle arrangement 35 iseffected because the converging fingers 77 inside the pipe section 70provide relatively flat baffle surfaces 93 in front of the incoming airstream. A lower pressure area thus tends to develop on the outermostsurfaces 94 of the fingers 77 and a portion of the incoming air tends tobe drawn around the fingers to fill this partial vacuum or low pressurearea. The tendency is for this air rushing around the sides of thefingers to be emitted in a horizontal plane over the surface of thesewage material being ejected.

In addition, some of the stream of incoming air goes on past deectingfingers 77 to the bottom 86 of the pipe cap 85 where it is deflectedback upwardly. This upfiow of air is deflected in a generally horizontalplane outwardly of the plane of the nozzle arrangement 35 by the contactwith the inclined vouter surfaces 94 of the inwardly converging fingers77. Contrary to what might be expected (and unlike broadly conventionalorifice type outlets), there is little, if any, head loss effected bythe nozzle arrangement 35.

The electrode-nozzle arrangement 35 embodying features of the presentinvention thus effects an efficient discharge of the sewage materialfrom the receiver chamber 21 without causing any substantial turbulenceon the surface of the material which might result in a splashed layer ofsemisolid material forming on the nozzle arrangement 35. The possibilityof a conducting layer of this damp sewage material causing a shortcircuit between the noninsulated lower end of the nozzle arrangement 35and the bulk head 17 forming the upper wall of the material receiverchamber 21 is thus substantially obviated.

It should now be recognized that a highly improved electrode nozzlearrangement for use in material handling apparatus such as a sewage liftstation has been described. It should also be recognized, however, thata new and improved method of manufacturing a nozzle arrangement has beendescribed. By the use of simple type elements such as the short pipesection 70 and the pipe cap 85, a highly efficient fluid emission nozzleor electrodenozzle is constructed simply, expeditiously, andeconomically.

I claim:

1. In a material receiver chamber, a nozzle for emitting fluid underpressure, comprising: a generally cylindrical nozzle wall, a lower endon said wall, an open upper end in said wall, a plurality of ngersformed from said wall and extending inwardly and downwardly of said wallin cantilevered relationship so that their free ends meet at an apexWithin said wall, and a corresponding plurality of outlets in said wallwhere said fingers are formed therefrom, said outlets left by theforming of said fingers extending downwardly in said wall to said lowerend, and means closing said lower end of said Wall closely below thefree ends of said fingers, whereby uid under pressure entering said openupper end substantially along the axis of said generally cylindricalwall is emitted from said ports generally perpendicular to said axis.

2. In a material receiver chamber, a nozzle for emitting uid underpressure, comprising: a generally cylindrical nozzle wall having a lowerend and an open upper end, a plurality of ingers formed from andextending inwardly of said wall, the free ends of said lingers beingformed from the lower end of said wall and said lingers extendingupwardly in said wall for a predetermined distance, a cap overlying thelower end of said wall to form a closed lower end on the nozzle and aplurality of outlet ports defined in said Wall by the formation of saidfingers, whereby fluid under pressure entering said open upper endsubstantially along the axis of said cylindrical wall is emitted fromsaid nozzle through said ports substantially perpendicular to said axis.

3. The nozzle of claim 2 further characterized in that said ngersterminate at said free ends immediately adjacent each otherapproximately on said axis of said generally cylindrical wall.

4. The nozzle of claim 2 further characterized in that saidpredetermined distance which said lingers extend upwardly in said wallis approximately two-thirds of the length of said Wall.

5. The nozzle of claim 2 further characterized in that said nozzle walland said cap are fabricated of electrically conductive material wherebysaid nozzle also serves as an electrode tip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,602,465 7/ 1952 Goehring239-524 X 3,034,733 5/1962 Brooks 239-568 X 3,275,021 9/ 1966 Loveless137-209 ALAN COHAN, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No.3,335,963 August l5, 1967 Frank G. Weis at error appears in the abovenumbered pat- It is hereby certified th Letters Patent should read asent requiring correction and that the said corrected below.

Column l, line 26, for "uutilizes" read utilizes same column l, line 59,for "steam" read -P stream Signed and sealed this 27th day of August1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Ir.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

1. IN A MATERIAL RECEIVER CHAMBER, A NOZZLE FOR EMITTING FLUID UNDERPRESSURE, COMPRISING: A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL NOZZLE WALL, A LOWER ENDON SAID WALL, AN OPEN UPPER END IN SAID WALL, A PLURALITY OF FINGERSFORMED FROM SAID WALL AND EXTENDING INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY OF SAID WALLIN CANTILEVERED RELATIONSHIP SO THAT THEIR FREE ENDS MEET AT AN APEXWITHIN SAID WALL AND A CORRESPONDING PLURALITY OF OUTLETS IN SAID WALLWHERE SAID FINGERS ARE FORMED THEREFROM, SAID OUTLETS LEFT BY THEFORMING OF SAID FINGERS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY IN SAID WALL TO SAID LOWEREND, AND MEANS CLOSING SAID LOWER END OF SAID WALL CLOSELY BELOW THEFREE ENDS OF SAID FINGERS, WHEREBY FLUID UNDER PRESSURE ENTERING SAIDOPEN UPPER END SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG THE AXIS OF SAID GENERALLYCYLINDRICAL WALL IS EMITTED FROM SAID PORTS GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TOSAID AXIS.